Jun 25, 2025

First Program Combines Engineering with Medicine

KFUPM has announced the launch of “the Bachelor of Since in Bioengineering, Pre-Medical Track” program through the BS in Bioengineering, developed in collaboration with King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). This first-of-its-kind initiative in MENA. The program offers students dual admission to both universities and spans eight years. It begins with four years at KFUPM to study bioengineering, followed by another four years at KSAU-HS to study medicine. Upon completion, students receive two university degrees: a Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering from KFUPM and a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery from KSAU-HS, this path has rigorous requirements, but in the end, the program adds only about one or two years to the conventional medical path.

The program reflects a strong belief that the "Engineer-Physician" holds a competitive advantage that surpasses the capabilities of a physician alone or an engineer alone, as they combine deep medical knowledge with strong engineering skills, particularly in light of the growing reliance of the medical field on advanced technologies, enabling them to effectively contribute to the development of innovative healthcare solutions aligned with the advancements of modern medicine. The program is designed to produce highly skilled local professionals who possess a unique combination of engineering knowledge and advanced medical technologies, a highly valuable combination in a healthcare sector undergoing rapid transformation. By bridging the gap between medical and engineering sciences, the program provides students with a solid engineering foundation, offering them a competitive advantage in modern medicine and enabling them to lead in both fields.

This inaugural program marks the result of a strategic alliance between two of Saudi Arabia’s foremost academic institutions: KFUPM, ranked first in MENA by Times Higher Education and 67th globally by QS World University Rankings, and KSAU-HS one of the highest-ranked universities in Saudi Arabia in medical disciplines.

KFUPM emphasized that the initiative opens new horizons for ambitious Saudi students through a distinguished academic path that combines engineering excellence with medical innovation. Students will gain the skills necessary to design and understand cutting-edge medical devices, biocompatible materials, and smart healthcare solutions. This program represents a significant transformation in the Kingdom’s medical education, contributing to national efforts to advance the healthcare sector in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The program aims to prepare a new generation of physicians equipped with a strong foundation in engineering, positioning them to contribute meaningfully to the future of healthcare both locally and globally. The first batch of the program is expected to be admitted in the upcoming academic year.